Google's messaging app Hangouts was today updated to version 2.0, adding an iOS 7 redesign and several new features including animated stickers, 10 second video messages, and iPad optimization. This is the app's first major update since it received voice calling and Google Voice integration back in October of 2013.

Following the update, the app supports a two-column conversation view on the iPad. Like many other social networking apps, Hangouts now supports animated stickers that can be included in messages, and maps of current locations can also be sent in a message.

Along with a new look and feel, Hangouts has also gained new option to send a video message that's up to 10 seconds in length to offline users, which can be viewed later.

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- Stickers: express your mood with fun animated stickers. Think of them as emoji, but even more awesome.

- Video Messages: record and send short videos to everyone in the conversation. Now you can really say what you need to say.

- Location sharing: send a map of your current location with a few simple taps. Great for coordinating the whole gang when you're ready to hangout IRL.

Of what? We can argue until the cows come home about what constitutes flat design, but I still prefer Apple's more playful take on it, and I think at the end of the day, that's really what matters more, rather than just meeting the technical definitions of "flat" just for the sake of it.

wonder if they fixed the Google Voice integration? there are times when it won't receive an incoming call, so I use both talkatone and google hangouts for google voice. (hangouts for outgoing, and talkatone for incoming as it always receives calls).

Of what? We can argue until the cows come home about what constitutes flat design, but I still prefer Apple's more playful take on it, and I think at the end of the day, that's really what matters more, rather than just meeting the technical definitions of "flat" just for the sake of it.

Apple's flat design is just clutter. At least Google's design is nice and clean, and minimalistic.

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Google knows UI? They can't even get mail right. It's also the same company that made a simple video app, YouTube, unusable and put text fields on the same plane as the background, rendering them invisible. I think they took "flat" design literally.

Of what? We can argue until the cows come home about what constitutes flat design, but I still prefer Apple's more playful take on it, and I think at the end of the day, that's really what matters more, rather than just meeting the technical definitions of "flat" just for the sake of it.

Does to me. Lots of grey and white plus muted colours. Add Roboto and you're pretty much there.

No slideout navigation, no overflow menu, etc. It looks nothing like any of Google's current apps on Android. I can't imagine Google using the 4 icons at the bottom for navigation considering what they have been moving towards on Android.

No slideout navigation, no overflow menu, etc. It looks nothing like any of Google's current apps on Android. I can't imagine Google using the 4 icons at the bottom for navigation considering what they have been moving towards on Android.

UI not UX. UX will never be the same because the OS differ in general UX.